Bonds

Chapter 73

-Alex’s POV-

We stood there, a tableau of shock and simmering tension. Her eyes, wide and glassy, seemed to stare right through me, threatening to shatter into a million pieces.

I wasn’t supposed to be here. I hated everything about a park. It reminded me of what I never had as a child. Yet, here I was because even though I had tried to fight it, my wolf would always be at attuned to her.

Everything had been going smoothly at the office. Ivan’s books checked out clean, the contract was signed, solidifying my ownership of a perfect 45% stake. No meetings lined up, just a day to unwind. Well, unwind wouldn’t exactly describe the tense atmosphere with Miranda at home. Not in the mood for another argument, I’d opted for a drive with my driver. Then, passing the park, a low growl rumbled through my wolf. Unease prickled my skin.

So I went for a drive. It wasn’t like I was following anyone, but my wolf seemed agitated when we passed the park. I instructed my driver to turn around, and that’s when I saw it – a flash of bright red hair through the trees. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, and before! knew it, I was almost by her side. A car sped off, leaving her alone in the middle of the field.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating and we continued to stand there, rapped in an unspoken language of stares. Finally, I broke the eye contact, the raw urge from my wolf threatening to spill over. I had to before I did something stupid like kiss her again and with that thought, my gaze fell to her lips.

She just continued staring at me then after a while, turned around to leave without a single word.

“Amaya,” I blurted out before she could disappear. Her shoulders tensed at the sound of her name, but she didn’t stop walking. Frustration bubbled up. “Amaya, stop walking,” I repeated, my voice firmer this time.

It was pointless to fight it. I unleashed a sliver of my alpha aura, a subtle pressure that demanded her attention. She whirled around, her eyes blazing with a fire I remembered all too well. “What do you want from me, Alex? Are you following me?!”

“Following you?” I scoffed, mirroring her irritated tone.

you should be here.”

“You hate parks so I don’t see any other reason yo

“I still hate parks.”

voice laced with disbelief. “Maybe your

yeah, huge changes,” I said dripping

voice tight. “This is

drawer?” My

color, eyes widening with a flicker of fear. I could get you arrested,” I continued, watching her

took a deep breath, trying to project strength. “Then

thicker and heavier than before. Neither of us spoke, just stared at each other, locked in a battle

10:26

Sat, 22

Chapter 73

90%

I couldn’t take

have nothing to say about the pictures?” I asked, breaking the

fire in her eyes burned brighter, the anger barely contained. “The pictures? What do you want me to say, Alex?

You

just shut up, Alex. Just f*cking shut up. How dare you? You know I always wondered why? Just why?

welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill. For a moment, her anger faltered, replaced by a vulnerability

it appeared, the vulnerability vanished. She stepped back, wiping a stray tear, her voice cold. “You

you.”

turned and started walking away again. This time, I couldn’t let her go.

skin as she slashed out with a feral snarl. “Don’t you

mirrored the burning ache in my chest as she continued, her voice tight with barely suppressed emotion. “You didn’t even ask, Alex. Not once. You didn’t even try to understand. All those years, all the trust we built gone. Just like that.” Her hand chopped through the air, mimicking a falling object. “You threw the divorce papers at me, kicked me out of our home…

Real.” I

the photos landed on my desk with a note, I didn’t want to believe it. I had spent days, nights even, poring over those pictures. Every detail, every grain of the image. They had looked authentic. Too

brittle sound. “Real? You think I would do that, Alex? After everything? You know how hard it was for me to trust people, to finally let you in? And you? You threw it all away on a